Tom Hanks is an award-winning American actor and filmmaker. With a career spanning over four decades, he is regarded as an American cultural icon. His comedic and dramatic roles in films such as “Forrest Gump”, “Saving Private Ryan”, and “Cast Away” have earned him multiple accolades, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor. Beyond acting, Hanks has ventured into writing and directing, solidifying his position as a versatile talent in Hollywood.
With such a resume, it’s no wonder Hanks has become advertisers’ gold.
Yet, in the new paradigm of generative AI, that could be a bad thing as the latest news that Hanks has alerted the public that an advertisement seemingly featuring him is actually a product of artificial intelligence (AI) impersonation.
“There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me,” the actor wrote on Instagram. “I have nothing to do with it,” he added.
On The Adam Buxton Podcast in May, Hanks delved into the ethical and legal dilemmas presented by AI, especially the notion of performances persisting after an individual’s passing.
“I could be hit by a bus tomorrow, and that’s it, but performances can go on and on and on and on,” said Hanks. “Outside the understanding of AI and deepfake, there’ll be nothing to tell you that it’s not me and me alone. And it’s going to have some degree of lifelike quality. That’s certainly an artistic challenge, but it’s also a legal one.”
Amid growing concerns about the increased power and sophistication of AI systems, particularly their ability to produce highly realistic virtual representations known as deepfakes, Hanks has voiced the “artistic challenge” AI presents to the entertainment industry. This challenge has been at the heart of recent disputes among notable Hollywood figures. Furthermore, these manipulated AI images and videos, targeting individuals like former US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, are intensifying online misinformation issues.
Featured image: Tom Hanks’ X (formerly Twitter) account
